Dual–Sport + Adventure Motorcycles

Dual–Sport + Adventure Motorcycles are street–legal
motorcycles that are designed for use both on– and off–road
(the “dual” in dual–sport or dual–purpose).
Dual–sport motorcycle guides discuss the fact that these are
typically single–cylinder motorbikes with engine displacements
ranging from 250cc to 650cc. Adventure motorcycles, also known as adventurer
tourers or travel enduros, have larger, multi–cylinder engines
(650cc and up) and are often equipped for long–distance travel with
windshields, comfortable seats, saddlebags or side cases. Due to the rigors
of off–road use, dual–sport and adventure motorcycles often
have durable bodywork and protective elements such as hand guards, engine
guards and skid plates – something to look for when reading
Dual–Sport + Adventure Motorcycle reviews. Their tires often have a
large–block tread pattern that provide grip on pavement and in dirt or
gravel; those ridden almost exclusively off–road usually run knobby
tires like those found on dirt bikes.

Based on the 160-horsepower in-line four from the S 1000 R naked sportbike, the all-new S 1000 XR adventure tourer delivers serious performance.
Photography by Kevin Wing
Thirty-five years ago, BMW created the adventure-touring segment when it introduced the R80G/S (Gelände/Strasse is German for “terrain/road”).... Read more »

New to the lineup for 2015, the V-Strom 650XT has a beak like the DL1000, plus spoked wheels, aluminum side cases, engine guards and a touring windscreen. (Photography by Kevin Wing)
The Suzuki V-Strom 650 occupies the middleweight niche between lighter dual-sports and larger adventure tourers, and its... Read more »

Funny how things come full circle if you just wait long enough, isn’t it? In the 1950s and ’60s, a British or American twin or single was often used for all kinds of riding, even if it wasn’t necessarily cut out for it. Then in the ’80s we marveled as specialization crept in and the street motorcycle... Read more »

Even with its stronger emphasis on adventure duties, the Rally serves as an excellent street ride, giving up nothing in terms of hard-charging twisty road capabilities or long-range comfort.
Aprilia is on the move and seriously courting the long-range crowd, first with the 2015 Caponord 1200 ABS Travel... Read more »

The KTM 1290 Super Adventure might be the most powerful and sophisticated adventure bike ever made. It certainly is one of the most exciting to ride. (Photography by Francesc Monterro and Sebas Romero)
With triple-digit rear-wheel horsepower, state-of-the-art electronics and enough comfort, range and... Read more »

Chasing the sunset on the 2014 KTM 1190 Adventure. (Photo by Kevin Wing)
Photos by Kevin Wing, Rich Cox, Mark Tuttle and Greg Drevenstedt
Any day now, our long-term 2014 KTM 1190 Adventure test bike will be going back, and we sure will miss it. The big, orange beast is actually the third in a series... Read more »

photography by Alessio Barbanti and Paul Barshon
In late 2010, at the EICMA show in Milan, Italy, Triumph pulled the covers off two all-new middleweight adventure tourers, the street-oriented Tiger 800 and off-road-ready Tiger 800 XC, and a few weeks later it hosted a world press launch for both bikes... Read more »

CSC RX-3 Cyclone
CSC Motorcycles, based in Azusa, California, announced today that it is bringing in the first shipment of 250cc RX-3 Cyclone adventure touring motorcycles to the United States.
The Cyclone, manufactured for CSC by Chinese manufacturer Zongshen, is being certified for highway use in the... Read more »

2015 KTM 1290 Super Adventure
With 131 horsepower and 80 lb-ft of torque at the rear wheel, few would accuse KTM’s 1190 Adventure of being down on power. But for some, a lot of power just isn’t enough. And for those intrepid souls KTM will offer a larger-displacement model called the 1290... Read more »

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Dual–Sport + Adventure Motorcycles, Who Uses Them?

Dual–Sport + Adventure Motorcycles are increasingly popular because
of their versatility, as emphasized by road tests on these motorbikes.
According to data from the Motorcycle Industry Council, they accounted for
6.3% of all motorcycle unit sales in 2012. They are street–legal and
designed to be ridden both on– and off–road, allowing riders
to use one motorcycle for almost all types of riding. Like Swiss Army knives
and Jeeps, dual–sport and adventure motorcycles are tough and ready
for anything. They typically have large–diameter front wheels (19–
or 21–inch) that easily roll over obstacles, long–travel suspension
that soaks up large bumps, and heavy–duty frames and components. Because
of their large front wheels and long–travel suspension, they often have
tall seat heights (32 inches and up) that can make them impractical for smaller
or shorter riders. Reviews frequently discuss the features that Dual–sport
and adventure riders are known for, such as adding “farkles,”
accessories that combine “function” and “sparkle,”
like auxiliary lights, bolt–on protective pieces and GPS navigation units,
to their bikes.

Dual–Sport + Adventure Motorcycle Standouts

The Kawasaki KLR650, a 650cc single–cylinder dual–sport motorcycle
that has been in production since 1987 with remarkably few changes, has been
the top–selling dual–sport motorcycle for many years due to its
performance in road tests, reliability and low sticker price. Other popular
dual–sport motorcycles are the Honda XR650L and CRF250L, Kawasaki KLX250S,
KTM 690 Enduro R, Suzuki DR650 and DR–Z400S, and Yamaha WR250R.
BMW invented the adventure touring segment with its 1980 R80G/S, where G/S
stands for Gelände/Strasse (German for off–road/road).
Today its R 1200 GS carries on that tradition and is one of the most popular
adventure touring motorcycles, along with other BMWs such as the F 800 GS and
G 650 GS. Other popular adventure motorcycles discussed in guides include the
Ducati Multistrada 1200, KTM 1190 Adventure, Suzuki V–Strom 650/1000,
Triumph Tiger 800/XC and Tiger Explorer, and Yamaha Super Ténéré.

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